System and method for identifying favorite service providers

Abstract

A system and method for identifying favorite or local favorite service provider(s) comprising searching, sorting, and / or filtering of service providers based on average user rating, review and / or recommendation of such service or the number of users who add service provider to their list of “My Favorites” or the number of members of a group who add service provider to their list of “My Favorites.”

Description

RELATED US APPLICATION [0001] This application is related to the following concurrently filed patent application U.S. Non-Provisional patent application entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FILTERING SEARCH QUERY RESULTS,” filed on Oct. 5, 2005, having assigned Ser. No. 11 / 243,837.COPYRIGHT NOTICE [0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. TECHNICAL FIELD [0003] The present invention relates generally to Internet and / or telecommunications systems and more specifically to a method, system and apparatus for identifying favorite service provider(s). BACKGROUND [0004] Local service providers primarily focus the majority their advertising dollars on yellow page listin...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] Accordingly, a feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to provide a member or user with the ability to search, view, sort and / or filter a list of service providers and their contact information, feedback, ratings, reviews, recommendations and / or other service provider information based on qualifying as a best service providers(s).

[0012] Another feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to provide a member or user with the ability to search, view, sort and / or filter a list of service providers and their contact information, ratings, reviews, recommendations and / or other service provider feedback or information based on qualifying as an above average service provider(s).

[0013] Still another feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to provide a member or user with the ability to search, view, sort and / or filter a list of service providers and their contact information, ratings, reviews, recommendations and / or other service provider feedback or information based on service provider(s) meeting a quality of service threshold.

[0014] Yet another feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to provide a member or user with the ability to search, view, sort and / or filter a list of service providers and their contact information, ratings, reviews, recommendations and / or other service provider feedback or information based on the average member(s) or user(s) rating of such service provider(s).

[0015] Yet another feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to provide a member or user with the ability to search, view, sort and / or filter a list of service providers and their contact information, ratings, reviews, recommendations and / or other service provider feedback or information based on the average member(s) or user(s) review of such service provider(s).

[0016] Yet another feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to provide a member or user with the ability to sort and / or filter a list of service providers and their contact information, ratings, reviews, recommendations and / or other service provider feedback or information based on the average member(s) or user(s) recommendation of such service provider(s).

Problems solved by technology

However, these sites do not focus on helping the user or consumer make an informed decision when selecting a service provider, but rather their focus is distributing the service provider's contact information and description of their goods and / or services.

Currently, consumers have limited means available for quickly finding reputable and qualified service providers in their local area such as dry-cleaning, car repair, dentists, home improvement contractors, auto mechanics, and the like.

The problem with this is that the referral is based on a very limited sample of service providers and / or the referral is likely based on a single evaluation of the service provider's performance.

In addition, websites exists that allow a user to rate and review service providers, but these websites fail to allow a user or member to sort service providers based on ratings, reviews, and / or recommendations by users, members, friends, friends of friends, and / or groups, such as individuals or groups of individuals the user trusts, shares similar interests, needs, associations and / or other factors, or identify and / or label such service providers as a favorite or local favorite service provider.

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